Federal File

A Stalemate Finale: Ending a lengthy standoff with Congress,
President Clinton has named Bill Lann Lee to head the civil rights
division of the Department of Justice.

Mr. Lee has served in the position in an acting capacity since
December 1997, but the Senate has failed for three years to confirm him
as the permanent division chief. In appointing Mr. Lee to the post
during the current congressional recess, the president was able to act
without Senate approval.

The last confirmed civil rights chief at the Justice Department was
Deval L. Patrick, who left the agency in early 1997.

Some Senate Republicans fought to block Mr. Lee's appointment and
criticized his record of support for affirmative action and school
busing. The civil rights division oversees school desegregation
orders.

Before joining the Justice Department, Mr. Lee was the Western
regional counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund from
1989 to 1997.

Partisan Switch: In the wake of his crushing loss in the
Democratic primary in March, Rep. Matthew G. Martinez has joined the
Republican Party.

The nine-term member from California's 31st Congressional District
became a Republican in July after he voted with Republicans on several
key pieces of legislation this summer. When he lost his primary
election by a landslide to Hilda Solis, Mr. Martinez, who was a leading
Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, blasted
the Democratic Party for not doing more to help him win
re-election.

"I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me,"
Mr. Martinez said at a July 26 Republican National Committee
meeting.

Some observers speculate that the 71-year-old will run for Congress
again in 2002. An aide to Mr. Martinez said her boss was interested in
staying in public life, but declined further comment on his plans.